Feeding Clinic – Joint Support from Dietitian & Speech Therapist
Our Feeding Clinic offers a multidisciplinary service led by Rebecca Bruce, our experienced paediatric dietitian, and Alice Loughlin, our skilled speech therapist. Together, they assess and manage feeding difficulties in children through a collaborative and family-centred approach.
We understand feeding challenges can be complex. That’s why our clinic brings together both dietary and oral-motor expertise in one appointment. Rebecca focuses on your child’s nutritional needs, while Alice evaluates oral-motor function and swallowing. Working together, they provide a holistic plan to support healthy and safe feeding.
Additionally, our paediatrician oversees each case and provides medical support when underlying health concerns are identified. This ensures your child receives complete care in one setting.
Meet Our Specialists
Rebecca Bruce, BSc, PGDipDiet – Registered Dietitian
Rebecca is an experienced paediatric dietitian dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children through personalised nutritional care. She strongly believes in the power of nutrition to transform lives and works closely with families to support children facing a wide range of feeding and dietary challenges — from poor weight gain and food allergies to gut issues, disordered eating, and healthy growth support.
Alice Loughlin – Qualified Speech-Language Therapist
With over 14 years of experience across the health and education sectors in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, Alice brings extensive expertise in paediatric feeding. Since joining Counties Manukau Health in 2016, she has supported young children with diverse needs, including prematurity, cleft palate, and cerebral palsy. Alice also coordinated the Paediatric Videofluoroscopy clinic at Middlemore Hospital.
Who Can Benefit from the Feeding Clinic?
Our Feeding Clinic is designed for infants, toddlers, and children who are experiencing:
Fussy or selective eating
Difficulty gaining weight or growing appropriately
Delays in transitioning to solids
Challenges with chewing or swallowing
Aversion to certain food textures or temperatures
History of reflux or other gastrointestinal conditions
Feeding behaviours that impact mealtime routines
Whether your child has a diagnosed condition or you simply have concerns about their feeding, we’re here to help.
Family-Centred and Practical Care
We know that feeding concerns can affect the whole family. That’s why we take the time to listen, understand your concerns, and work with you to develop realistic and effective strategies. We value collaboration with parents and caregivers and ensure that all recommendations are practical and tailored to your home environment.
In cases where underlying medical issues may be contributing to feeding difficulties, our clinic also involves a paediatrician, who provides clinical oversight. This ensures any medical concerns are recognised and managed alongside therapy, offering peace of mind and a streamlined approach to your child’s care.
Get Started Today!
We’re currently accepting new patients. If you believe your child may benefit from our Feeding Clinic, please get in touch with our team to make a booking.
We treat paediatric patients of all ages – from newborns and toddlers, to youngsters throughout their childhood and into their older teens. With such a large variety of patients, our team brings together a wide range of general and specialist experience to ensure the best result for your child.